Research Interests

To increase the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI)
systems, it is necessary to think broadly about tasks requiring
intelligent behavior. In my research, I design intelligent agents
capable of carrying out human tasks (e.g., conceptual design, team
behavior, learning to solve intelligence test questions). When people
perform these tasks, they draw on considerable knowledge and
experiences. Consequently, my research explores possible forms of this
knowledge, how it can be learned, and how it can be applied in new
situations. The results of this research have applications in training
simulations by creating more realistic participants, transportation,
autonomous systems, and design tools.

While beyond the capabilities of current AI systems, intelligent
behavior across a range of tasks would not just increase the autonomy
of existing systems, but would also enable human users to treat AI
systems as collaborators drawing on shared experiences in a wide array
of tasks, instead of merely as tools.